Subscribe
Follow Us
The Charlotte Hornets will have an interesting NBA trade deadline, and it's not clear why they're wanting to deal with a number of the players who have been speculated to be available. Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and PJ Washington have all been linked to trades. Given their level of success at this time and given how young they are, it's hard to believe the Hornets are trying to deal with these guys.
Regardless, there are several reports that Gordon Hayward might be shipped before the NBA trade deadline, and while this isn't the ideal option from the Hornets' standpoint, it is a possibility.
Three teams may benefit from adding Hayward to their roster. While all of these trades could be tough, some contending squads are going to overpay, and due to the players' salaries, they will have to give back a certain package. Not all of these trades are likely, but contending teams are going to be doing everything they can to get better, which could cause some wild deals to be done, as we have seen in the past. Teams in a rebuild type of situation will also attempt to move some key players, and at times, for less than what they are worth.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 teams who should trade for Gordon Hayward at 2022 NBA Trade Deadline
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Given their performance this season, the Grizzlies find themselves in an intriguing situation. Nobody expected them to be a contender for an NBA title at the start of the season. Everyone recognizes that if they keep developing at their current rate, they might be a team capable of winning one in a few seasons.
Memphis has far outperformed expectations this season, prompting some trade speculations from fans and media. The Grizzlies don't have to make any kind of move, but it could be in their best interest if they do. They could use a player who can come in and provide them 17-20 points per night, just like Hayward.
The Grizzlies must also consider the fact that, given the team's chemistry, trading a couple of their most important assets for a player who they believe can contribute might not be the greatest decision.
A squad this young and with this much chemistry should never be split up, and unless the Grizzlies can work out a deal that doesn't require them to move any of its core pieces, it's probably something they'll pass on.
Article Continues Below
2. Portland Trail Blazers
This may be the ideal opportunity for the Blazers to do the right thing and bring in someone who understands what they're doing to play with Damian Lillard. Portland has done a poor job of bringing in players who can have an immediate impact next to Lillard over the last few years, and the results have proven that. The Blazers have already made a lot of moves during the NBA trade deadline this year, and there are talks that they're going to make even more.
If Portland is going to have any chance of succeeding with Lillard in the near future, a trade or two needs to be done. What the Blazers did recently only pushed them back a few steps from where they were.
If they can bring in a player like Gordon Hayward, they may be able to speed up the current process, implying that they will only need to make a few more trades to become a championship contender.
1. Atlanta Hawks
It'll be intriguing to watch what the Hawks do at the NBA trade deadline. There have been speculations that they are interested in Hayward, which makes sense from their standpoint. He stands 6-foot-7 and has the ability to score at a high level while also playing above-average defense.
The Hawks are in an unusual position since they have the talent to win an NBA championship, but they might be lacking one or two key pieces. It's difficult to say if Hayward could be the missing piece that pushes the team over the top, but he's likely to be someone who can help the club win a championship.
There's a good chance the Hornets don't make any changes, but there have been a lot of recent rumors that they're looking to trade a number of their players. They'll have to be extremely careful about what they do since they have a youthful core and don't want to jeopardize it by rushing the process.
